Olympic sailing silver medallist Hannah Mills has urged people to “dig deep” to support a lifeboat station appeal near her hometown.

Penarth RNLI is trying to raise £52,000 to pay for a new D-class inshore lifeboat. The money would replace the existing boat in early 2018 and accompany the station’s bigger Atlantic 85 lifeboat.

Lifeboat volunteers say the new boat will help the crew save lives at sea for years into the future.

At a celebratory appeal launch at the lifeboat station yesterday, Mills, from Dinas Powys, met the volunteer crew and station officials and gave her support to the fundraising bid.

The 28-year-old, who won a silver medal at the 2012 Games in London and will shortly set off to Brazil to compete in the Rio Olympics, said: “I grew up sailing in these waters and I knew that if I ever got into trouble the RNLI would be there to help me.

“The lifeboat volunteers risk everything to save others in danger at sea so they need the best equipment possible to keep them safe and help them help others. So I would urge everyone to dig deep and do what they can to support this lifeboat appeal.”

D-class lifeboats are the most numerous and main “workhorses” of the RNLI operating in inshore waters and there are over 150 in the fleet.

Great British Olympic sailor Hannah Mills at Penarth Lifeboat Station to help launch their lifeboat appeal before leaving for Rio (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)

Since 1980, when Penarth RNLI lifeboat station reopened after a break of some 80 years, they have had five different D-class boats.

The present one, the D693 Connie Daines has been in Penarth since 2008 and during that time has been launched on 225 service calls, rescued 332 people, and saved seven lives.

In 2015, Penarth RNLI lifeboat station rescued more people than any other inshore station in Wales.

Jason Dunlop, Penarth lifeboat operations manager, said: “We have fantastic support from our community and I would like to appeal to them once again to help with this appeal and encourage everyone to take part in fundraising activities.

“Our volunteer crews can be called out 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to help save lives at sea on the Bristol Channel, on the beaches, in the rivers and in Cardiff Bay. By supporting this appeal people will be ensuring our volunteer crews have the latest equipment to help them to continue in that mission.

“The RNLI does not receive government funding and is supported almost entirely by the voluntary contributions of its supporters, so we really need do need your help.”

To support the appeal visit www.penarthlifeboatappeal.org or email email penarth@rnli.org.uk